Board discusses trashed property

Published: Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 07:34 PM.

PANAMA CITY — It’s bad enough when people trash their own yard and worse when the repo man does it. That was one topic the Code Enforcement Board discussed at its meeting Thursday.

A property at 719 Lillian Lane in Southport raised board members’ eyebrows because of trash, furniture and appliances strewn across its yard.

Bay County code enforcement officer Sharon Roberts said she visited the property in August and found the refuse. Later a neighbor told her the mobile home sat on the property but was repossessed.

Roberts said it looked as if the contents of the mobile home were thrown out on the property prior to its removal.

Board Chairman Doug Lawrence was concerned at the thought that repo men trashed the property.

“What responsibility does the repossessor have to not just throw stuff out on the street?” he said.

Lawrencesaid when cars are repossessed the contents inside are the repossessor’s responsibility. He said this might be a litter case where the Bay County Sheriff’s Office would approach the repossessor.

PANAMA CITY — It’s bad enough when people trash their own yard and worse when the repo man does it. That was one topic the Code Enforcement Board discussed at its meeting Thursday.

A property at 719 Lillian Lane in Southport raised board members’ eyebrows because of trash, furniture and appliances strewn across its yard.

Bay County code enforcement officer Sharon Roberts said she visited the property in August and found the refuse. Later a neighbor told her the mobile home sat on the property but was repossessed.

Roberts said it looked as if the contents of the mobile home were thrown out on the property prior to its removal.

Board Chairman Doug Lawrence was concerned at the thought that repo men trashed the property.

“What responsibility does the repossessor have to not just throw stuff out on the street?” he said.

Lawrencesaid when cars are repossessed the contents inside are the repossessor’s responsibility. He said this might be a litter case where the Bay County Sheriff’s Office would approach the repossessor.

Code enforcement manager Scott Hair said it would be a felony if the repossessor actually dumped the furniture on the property. But he said because it’s not known for certain the repossessor dumped the furniture and appliances no one should be speculating about that in a public hearing.

“That’s just hearsay — he said; she said. Nobody saw what actually happened,” he said.

The owners, Marvin and Tamela Hines, did not attend the meeting to give their side. Roberts said she was told they left for Tennessee. Calls by The News Herald to his last known address were not answered.

Ultimately, the board passed Roberts’ recommendation, which gives the owners 10 days to bring the property into compliance or be fined $200 initially, with a fine of $25 per additional day.

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